Construction at Summerlin and Winkler intersection begins 2019

The intersection of two roads in Lee County will be completely revamped by next year.

The intersection at Summerlin Road and Winkler Road in Fort Myers will start construction in January and end in May 2019, county officials said.

Leslie O’Brien in Fort Myers thinks this project is important.

“These seem to be major roads here,” O’Brien said. “They carry a lot of traffic. Ultimately, it’s going to have to happen, I would think.

Lee County will be adding and extending turning lanes in hopes to cut down traffic backups and accidents.

“Turning lanes are always important because you get back up in the one lane, you got half the people wanting to turn,” O’Brien said.

On top of that, drivers can expect new traffic signals, upgraded pedestrian facilities and new pavement.

George Brown in Fort Myers thinks this is not a project that needs to be done here.

“I don’t have any problems,” Brown said. “But the safety at that intersection, my problem with Summerlin is the speeders.”

Brown is skeptical about the start date in January for the road construction and traffic improvements.

“Well, it seems like they win until all the tourists are here to start constructing,” Brown said. “And if they would do these things like in the summer, there’s less congestion it would be easier for everybody.”

Although O’Brien is not a fan of construction either, she said it is a part of the deal of living in Southwest Florida.

“It comes with the territory,” O’Brien said. “If you’re a ghost town, that’s not good either.”